The United States has announced a waiver of visa bond requirements for football fans from five African countries attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision, announced by the Trump administration on Tuesday, affects supporters from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia who have purchased official FIFA World Cup tickets and enrolled in the FIFA Pass system for faster visa appointments.
The visa bond policy, introduced last year as part of stricter immigration measures, required travelers from about 50 countries with high visa overstay rates to pay refundable bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 before entering the U.S.
Under the new exemption, eligible World Cup fans from the five African nations will no longer need to pay the bond. Players, coaches, and tournament staff were already exempt from the policy.
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, said the waiver is aimed at supporting travel for the global tournament.
“The United States is excited to organise the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history. We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets,” Namdar said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Despite the waiver, the administration continues to enforce strict immigration controls. Travelers from Iran and Haiti still face entry restrictions, while citizens of Ivory Coast and Senegal remain under partial limitations. Additional measures, including social media screening for visa applicants, also remain in effect.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticised the policies, arguing they conflict with the inclusive spirit of the World Cup. The American Hotel & Lodging Association also warned that visa restrictions are reducing international travel demand and affecting hotel bookings for the tournament.
The visa bond policy remains in force for other affected countries, with refunds issued to applicants who comply with visa conditions or whose applications are denied.
